Panic has spread in Ankara after the death of 12 Turkish soldiers in Iraq. Citizens are now questioning the government about what their soldiers were doing in Iraq. According to Turkey’s Ministry of Defense, these soldiers were conducting a search operation inside a cave in northern Iraq. During this operation, they came into contact with methane gas, which led to their deaths. The soldiers were searching for the remains of a fellow soldier who had been killed in the region by Kurdish rebels.
What Did the Turkish Defence Ministry Say?
According to the ministry, the soldiers were exploring a mountain cave when 19 of them were exposed to gas. On Sunday, five soldiers died due to the colorless, odorless, flammable gas, which in sufficient concentration can cause suffocation. Seven more soldiers succumbed on Monday. The ministry stated on Monday: "We pray for God’s mercy on our brave martyrs who lost their lives in this tragic incident."
They also expressed hope for the speedy recovery of the other affected soldiers.
Turkey’s Military Has Been Conducting Operations in Iraq Since 2022
The ministry said the incident occurred in the “Claw-Lock Operation Zone”—referring to an operation launched in April 2022 in northern Iraq against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party or PKK. Turkey and the PKK have been in conflict for the past 40 years, but recently both sides agreed to a ceasefire. Turkey considers the PKK a terrorist organization and has therefore established multiple military bases in northern Iraq to fight against them.
Turkey Was Searching for a Fallen Officer’s Remains
According to the ministry, the Turkish military unit affected by methane gas was searching for the remains of an infantry officer who was killed in May 2022 during a reconnaissance mission under "terrorist fire." Recovery teams had been scouring the area for the past three years. The cave where the incident occurred is situated at an altitude of 852 meters (2,795 feet) and was previously used by the PKK as a field hospital.
